Early intravitreal bevacizumab for non-ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of early intravitreal bevacizumab injections for the treatment of macular oedema caused by non-ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).


METHODS
The study included 25 patients (25 eyes) with macular oedema caused by non-ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion, who received three intravitreal injections of 1.5 mg bevacizumab with an interval of 6 weeks between the injections. Mean duration of central retinal vein occlusion prior to the first injection was 4.2 +/- 3.6 days. All patients were re-examined 1, 3 and 6 months after the first injection. The main outcome parameters were visual acuity and macular thickness, as measured by optical coherence tomography.


RESULTS
Mean visual acuity improved significantly from 0.97 +/- 0.40 logMAR at baseline to 0.70 +/- 0.42 logMAR (P = 0.007) at 1 month, 0.69 +/- 0.46 (P = 0.006) 3 months and 0.69 +/- 0.52 (P = 0.015) 6 months after the first injection. Mean central retinal thickness decreased significantly from 530 +/- 152 microm at baseline to 347 +/- 127 microm (P < 0.001) at 1 month, 370 +/- 165 microm (P < 0.001) 3 months and 346 +/- 129 microm (P < 0.001) 6 months (P < 0.001) after the first injection. The increase in visual acuity correlated significantly (P < 0.01) with the decrease in macular thickness. Mean intraocular pressure was 14.2 +/- 3.2 mmHg at baseline and did not differ significantly from the measurement obtained at 1 month (P = 0.59), 3 months (P = 0.88) and 6 months after the first injection (P = 0.65).


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal bevacizumab injections given shortly after onset of non-ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion may result in a significant increase in vision and a corresponding decrease in macular oedema.
Rensch
Florian
F
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany.
Jonas
Jost B
JB
Spandau
Ulrich H M
UH
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab